Generation of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in liquids using laser ablation: Analysing the roles of temperature and viscosity

• Continuous wave laser ablation in liquid (CWLAL) introduced a cost-effective titanium dioxide nanoparticle generation method. • Spherical morphology observed at higher polysorbate 80 concentrations. • Nanoparticle generation rate increases significantly with elevated temperatures. • Cost-effective method adjusts nanoparticle characteristics via liquid properties. Tuning nanoparticle properties is crucial for enhancing performance across various applications. Adjusting the temperature and viscosity of the laser ablation liquid optimises these properties, yet significant research gaps remain in understanding their combined effects. Most studies have focused on these factors independently, often using pulsed lasers that are less energy-efficient and cost-effective than continuous wave (CW) lasers. This study utilises CW laser ablation to generate titanium dioxide nanoparticles in DI water and different concentrations of polysorbate 80 at temperatures of 5 °C, 28 °C, 60 °C, and 80 °C, investigating how these factors collectively influence nanoparticle properties. Results confirmed the generation of titanium dioxide nanoparticles, showing both spherical and non-spherical particle shapes as a function of polysorbate 80 concentration. The crystallinity of the nanoparticles is observed across all temperature and concentration ranges. As the concentration increases from S1 to S5 at 28 °C, a 3.38-fold increase in size is observed, rising from 13 nm to 44 nm. The nanoparticle generation rate shows fluctuations but generally increases with temperature, reaching an average of 237.4 mg/hr at 80 °C across all concentrations. This combined approach of using polysorbate 80 and temperature may pave the way for modifying particle properties to meet the specific requirements of various applications.